"Racing has played a major part in the development of all Aston Martin engines since Frank Halford designed the original 1.5-litre unit for Bamford & Martin. The 3,995cc 6-cylinder light alloy engine fitted to the DB5 is in all major respects the same as that which powered the 4-litre prototype which ran in the 1962 and 1963 Le Mans 24-Hour races.'  Autocar, May 21st, 1965.

The DB5 was introduced in July 1963 and represented a further evolution of the preceding DB4 series rather than the beginning of an entirely new model line. The major change was the adoption of a 4.0-liter version of the (previously) 3.7-liter six-cylinder engine, this enlarged unit having been seen first in the Lagonda Rapide of 1961. Equipped with three SU carburetors, the '400' engine produced 282bhp at 5,500rpm and was mated to a four-speed/overdrive gearbox. Outwardly there was little to distinguish the DB5 from the final Series 5 DB4 apart from twin fuel filler caps, though these had already appeared on some cars. Beneath the skin however, there were numerous improvements including alternator electrics, Girling disc brakes instead of Dunlops, Sundym glass, electric windows and an oil pressure gauge as standard equipment. The DB5's superb performance  0-60mph in 7.1 seconds and a top speed of 148mph  ranked it amongst the world's fastest cars.

Beyond all independent expressions of its beauty and performance, which were well founded, the DB5 was endorsed by the most famous of all Secret Service agents, James Bond. From its debut in Goldfinger in 1964, the model has commanded iconic status throughout the world, whether as seen through images of the suave Sean Connery leaning against a DB5 on a Swiss mountain pass, or children's toys that would jettison Mr. Bond's captor, seemingly no age group is immune to its charms, quite simply the DB5 is part of our culture.

The Motorcar Offered

This DB5 is a great looking example of the marque and model. Subtly finished in a dark hue of metallic grey, it has been the recipient of a comprehensive refurbishment at a cost of more than $100,000 by a recognized Aston Martin Heritage agent, putting it in very fine cosmetic and mechanical order. Every major system in the car has been gone through, refreshing, rebuilding, replacing and restoring as needed. At the same time, given its current domicile within the US the owner elected to convert the car from right to left hand drive, simply to make it more usable.

As verified by its factory order, the car was originally sold new in the UK, to P. Hodgson Esquire of Hodgson & Sons Ltd, 2 Holyhead Road, Birmingham, England, with its delivery date being January 7th, 1965. To judge from the early mileage accrued Hodgson was getting good use and enjoyment covering approximately 7,500 miles a year, all the while with routine factory maintenance up to September 1968, by which time it had covered 31,559 miles. Its second owner was the Swift Meyer Tool Company Ltd, of Aldridge, a neighboring town to Birmingham. It is not known how long this ownership lasted, but by the middle of the 1980s the car was on the market, offered by former London collector car establishment Paradise Garage.

It was there that the former owner, a US resident working in London, found the car, acquiring it and shipping it back to his home in Connecticut, where it was registered from August 1986, by which time it showed roughly 65,000 miles on the odometer. In the early 1990s, the condition was felt to be in need of some attention and it was sent to Aston Martin Vintage Racing Services, then owned by Peter Livanos, of Stamford, Connecticut, for an engine rebuild, bare metal respray and complete retrim.

As evidenced from its condition at the transition to the current owner, this must have been carried out to a very high level. Better still, its interior at that time was refurbished in period correct Connolly leather, which is today unobtainable, and with correct Wilton carpets. Since it has covered literally just over 2,000 miles in the course of the last decades both remain in very fine order and are particularly good features of the car.

Today, presenting extremely well, with a driving experience to match, the engine is reported to have good compression and leak down numbers, and five speed transmission shifting beautifully. Completing the authenticity of its period look, it wears Dunlop wire wheels, with Borrani knock off hubs, shod with correct Michelin XWX tires while included with it are a proper restored DB5 jack, owners' manual and factory Heritage tool kit.

One of the truly iconic cars of all time, this is a fine way to sample the legendary DB5.

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